Which of the following is a task involved in the collection of physical evidence?

The task involved in the collection of physical evidence is appropriately identified as the protection of evidence. Protecting evidence is a critical aspect of the collection process, as it ensures that the integrity of the evidence is maintained. This involves securing the scene where evidence is found, preventing contamination, and ensuring that evidence remains in a state that can be accurately analyzed later.

Protection of evidence is vital to uphold the chain of custody, which is the process of maintaining and documenting the handling of the evidence from the crime scene to the courtroom. Without proper protection, the validity of the evidence could be compromised, jeopardizing investigations and potential prosecutions.

In contrast, witness interviewing focuses on gathering statements from people who may have knowledge of the incident, evidence analysis in a laboratory pertains to evaluating collected evidence using scientific methods, and surveillance of suspects involves monitoring individuals to gather additional intelligence or confirm suspicions. While these are important tasks in the overall investigative process, they do not directly pertain to the immediate collection and safeguarding of physical evidence at a crime scene.