KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Local police say prostitutes using the Internet to meet prospective customers is becoming a problem in Tennessee.

Authorities say the problem has been occurring in cities including Knoxville and Nashville.

Chris Stein, a Johnson City Police Department investigator, tells the Knoxville News Sentinel that the area's been hurt by online prostitution. But Stein says police have been cracking down lately.

Stein says about 20 people have been arrested on related charges during the past approximately eight months.

Meanwhile, the Nashville Police Department's vice unit has arrested 187 people on Internet prostitution related charges and more than 300 since 2006. Sgt. Jason Duncan says the unit now focuses primarily on online prostitution, leaving street prostitutes to geographic patrols.